What The LaunchPort does

The LaunchPort is a privately held medtech manufacturing accelerator and venture center headquartered at City Garage Science and Technology Center in Baltimore's Port Covington/Baltimore Peninsula. Founded in 2020 and acquired into a wholly owned subsidiary the Baltimore operations of Engineered Medical Systems (a 35-year-old contract manufacturer) in 2022, it operates an ISO 13485:2016-certified facility featuring three ISO 7 clean rooms (~1,000 sq ft), two Steris V-Max Pro hydrogen peroxide sterilizers, dedicated engineering modules (120–330 sq ft), shared environmental chambers, and 3D printing capabilities provided through a partnership with Materic. It serves early- to mid-stage medical device startups, academic spinouts from Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland, and international life sciences companies entering the U.S. via the Maryland Global Gateway Soft Landing Program.

The company generates revenue through four streams: recurring residency and facility access fees (subscription), fee-for-service contract manufacturing and prototyping (professional services), mentoring and consulting on quality systems, regulatory submission, and Lean Startup business model development (professional services), and educational programming and events such as the Discovery Masterclass (professional services, partly free). It is privately held by Managing Partner Bob Storey and Partner Jeff Quinn, with no external institutional investment disclosed. The company has received approximately $975,600 in non-dilutive Maryland state grants across 2024–2025 (Build Our Future and TEDCO Equitech) to expand the Advanced Manufacturing Facility and workforce programs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; residency terms vary, with the Maryland Global Gateway Program offering six months of rent assistance for qualifying international companies.

The LaunchPort's strategic position rests on three pillars: regulatory-grade manufacturing infrastructure rare among startup incubators, deep institutional integration with Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, NIH/NCATS, TEDCO, and the Maryland Department of Commerce, and a 35-year inherited manufacturing track record through the EMS acquisition. It has supported 80 companies from 41 countries through Global Gateway since 2023 and hosts an active resident base spanning orthopedics, diagnostics, cardiovascular, neurology, ophthalmology, sleep apnea, tissue engineering, women's health, and other medtech verticals. Key risks include dependence on public grant funding for expansion, customer base entirely comprised of pre-commercial startups correlated to early-stage medtech capital cycles, and limited revenue transparency.

Name

The LaunchPort

Legal name

LaunchPort, LLC

Website

https://thelaunchport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The LaunchPort is an ISO 13485-certified medtech manufacturing accelerator in Baltimore that provides early- and mid-stage medical device startups with co-located manufacturing, clean rooms, engineering, mentoring, and regulatory support, including international soft-landing via the Maryland Global Gateway Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medtech contract manufacturing and acceleration services

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Manufacturing, MSAT & Operations Staffing (API/Biologics/Cell & Gene) (HLAGAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Site Start-Up & Activation (Regulatory/Ethics/Contracts) (HLAGACAC), Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL)

Keywords

• Medical device manufacturing
• Medtech accelerator services
• ISO 13485 contract manufacturing
• Cleanroom sterilization services
• Biomedical engineering consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Resident Rent & Facility Access: Companies establishing operations at LaunchPort pay for office, engineering, and manufacturing space. Residents receive access to facilities, programming, mentoring, and quality documentation templates as part of their residency.
2. Contract Manufacturing Services (OEM): LaunchPort provides fee-for-service medical device manufacturing including assembly, testing coordination, regulatory strategy assistance, and logistics coordination. The predecessor operation (Engineered Medical Systems) had 35+ years of contract manufacturing experience.
3. Mentoring & Consulting: Business model development, operational support, and corporate advisory services provided to residents and prospects. Access to world-class experts in medical device commercialization based on Lean Start-up principles.
4. Educational Programming & Events: Seminars, workshops, and events (R&D tax credit seminars, Ecphora Capital Seminar Series, Discovery Masterclass) offered to residents and the regional ecosystem, some free and some paid.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The LaunchPort is a medtech manufacturing accelerator that provides co-located office, engineering, manufacturing, and clean room facilities to medical device startups alongside ISO-13485 contract manufacturing, prototyping, sterilization, quality system templates, and Lean Startup-based mentoring/consulting. Its wholly owned LaunchPort Manufacturing subsidiary delivers fee-for-service electro-mechanical assembly, regulatory strategy, and supply chain support, while programming events such as the Discovery Masterclass expand the ecosystem.

Product overview

The LaunchPort is a medtech manufacturing accelerator and venture center in Baltimore's Port Covington that offers a combination of physical facilities and support services. The core offering includes Manufacturing & Prototyping Services (ISO-13485 compliant electro-mechanical assembly, supply chain management, regulatory support), Engineering Services (dedicated modules, 3D printing, environmental chambers), and Sterilization & Clean Rooms (ISO 7 clean rooms, hydrogen peroxide sterilization). Support services encompass Mentoring & Consulting (quality systems, business model development, Lean Start-up principles), Programming & Events (seminars, webinars, networking), and the Discovery Masterclass and Sprint Program for customer discovery training. The MedicaForge program is also offered as part of the ecosystem. The LaunchPort also hosts resident medtech companies at its facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manufacturing & Prototyping Services Full-service medical device manufacturing and prototyping capabilities including product design transition from concept to manufacturability, sub-component sourcing, ISO-13485 electro-mechanical assembly, logistics coordination, and third-party product testing assistance (bio-compatibility, sterilization validation, software V&V). Designed for medtech startups needing regulated manufacturing capacity.
• Engineering Services Advanced engineering capabilities including dedicated engineering modules (120-330 sq ft), a common engineering lab with environmental chambers and 3D printing equipment, work tables, and temporary assembly areas for trial preparation and shipment staging. Targeted at medtech startups needing prototyping space.
• Sterilization & Clean Rooms Production-level sterilization and clean room access for residents, including two Steris V-Max Pro hydrogen peroxide sterilizers with aeration systems, three ISO 7 clean rooms (~1,000 sq ft), and regulatory staging areas for controlled logistics processes. Intended for medtech companies validating commercial-scale manufacturing processes.
• Mentoring & Consulting Business development and operational support including quality system documentation templates, operations engineering, supply chain management, business model development based on Lean Start-up principles, corporate business advisors, and investor/partnership strategies. Targeted at medtech startups and academic spinouts commercializing regulated products.
• Programming & Events Educational programming including seminars, workshops, webinars, and networking events covering topics such as R&D tax credits, regulatory submissions, funding preparation, customer discovery, and federal opportunities for life sciences innovators. Some programming is offered free to residents and regional life sciences ecosystem members; select events are paid.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 80 companies from 41 countries through Maryland Global Gateway Program since 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2024TEDCO awarded LaunchPort Equitech Growth Funds for workforce development initiative to accelerate recruitment and training in Medtech manufacturing. LaunchPort also connects companies to TEDCO's numerous translational development programs and funds.
• Thibodeau Media GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 November 2024Strategic partnership providing LaunchPort residents with specialized marketing guidance including resource optimization, brand development, and market-entry strategy to help bring innovative medical solutions to market.
• Maryland Department of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Maryland Dept. of Commerce administers the Maryland Global Gateway Soft Landing Program at LaunchPort, promoting Maryland as a top destination for foreign direct investment in life sciences. LaunchPort was showcased at SelectUSA Investment Summit to promote state investment assets.
• MatericcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2022Partnership to drive advanced materials manufacturing for medical device technology. Materic's expertise in advanced materials and 3D printing combines with LaunchPort's GMP production capabilities to support clients developing and commercializing medical products.
• Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunchPort is deeply integrated with Johns Hopkins ecosystem. The majority of residents have roots at Johns Hopkins. Partnership includes connections to Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures, Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID), Applied Physics Laboratory, and Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices. Bob Storey serves on multiple JHU advisory boards.
• University of MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Maryland medical schools and medical centers are within 5 miles of LaunchPort. The two universities (JHU and UM) spend approximately $3.5 billion combined on research. Partnership includes University of Maryland Biopark and related translational programs.
• City Garage / Baltimore PeninsulacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunchPort is co-located at City Garage Science and Technology Center in Baltimore Peninsula/Port Covington. LaunchPort works closely with developers of Port Covington to help companies develop and validate future facilities needs.
• Korean Innovation Center / National Research Foundation (NRF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year Korean Bio I-Corp program where MVR Company (Bob Storey's venture assessment company) designed training in customer discovery techniques. Programs started in Seoul and ended with four weeks in Baltimore for US ecosystem research and commercialization opportunities.
• Maryland Israel Development Center (MIDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIDC sponsored a dozen Israeli companies in a joint Israel/Maryland customer discovery program designed and led by MVR Company. Program started in Tel Aviv and concluded at LaunchPort in Baltimore.
• NIH / NCATScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBob Storey serves as Portfolio Executive for NIH's RADx initiative and as Medical Device expert for NIH I-Corps program. LaunchPort hosts NSF I-Corps Hub Mid-Atlantic Region Bio/MedTech Startup Symposium. Partnership with NIH supports neurotechnology investments through Neurotech Harbor.
• Abell FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation donor that co-sponsored the Medtech Innovators East Coast Pitch Event reception at City Garage along with LaunchPort, South Duvall Development, and other regional donors.
• BioBuzzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of Ecphora Capital Seminar Series at City Garage in Baltimore. BioBuzz has been a leading force in life science ecosystem building since 2009.
• Ecphora CapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeminar series sponsor focused on 'Preparing Your Company for a First Funding Round.' Presented by Deborah Hemingway, PhD, Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital, educating attendees on investment landscape and company funding preparation.
• HN Clinical ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMissouri-based consulting firm that supported Nanochon throughout clinical trial design and regulatory approval process for Health Canada submission. Will continue to support full life cycle of Chondrograft.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JumpStart Health: Cleveland-based healthcare and medical device venture development organization supporting healthtech founders from ideation through commercialization. Peer given its regional-anchor model and focus on medtech/medical device company creation.
• Cedars-Sinai Accelerator: Hospital-affiliated health-tech accelerator providing mentorship, capital access, and clinical validation to healthcare startups. Comparable in using deep institutional ties (Cedars-Sinai as LaunchPort uses Johns Hopkins/UMD) to source and accelerate medtech founders.
• Fogarty Innovation: Mountain View, CA-based nonprofit medtech company-building accelerator offering mentorship, education, and infrastructure to early-stage medical device companies. Peer given its non-equity accelerator model focused on medtech commercialization.
• GCMI (Global Center for Medical Innovation): Atlanta-based nonprofit medtech development center offering design, prototyping, engineering, and small-batch manufacturing services to medtech innovators. Closest functional peer given its overlapping contract manufacturing, prototyping, and medtech commercialization focus.
• Matter: Chicago-based healthcare-focused incubator and venture center that supports medtech, digital health, and biotech startups with co-located labs, offices, and programming. Comparable to LaunchPort's blend of facility space, mentorship, and ecosystem-driven deal flow.
• MedTech Innovator: Los Angeles-based industry accelerator and venture competition for medical device, digital health, and diagnostic startups. Peer because it offers the accelerator-style programming and corporate-partner network LaunchPort provides, though without on-site manufacturing.
• gBETA Medtech: Milwaukee-based free, no-equity accelerator program for early-stage medical device, healthcare, and digital health startups, operated by gener8tor. Direct peer given its similar mission of accelerating medtech founders through structured programming, mentorship, and industry connections.
• UCSF Rosenman Institute: UCSF-affiliated health-tech accelerator connecting clinicians, entrepreneurs, and investors. Comparable given its academic-medical-center anchor and health-tech/medtech founder focus, similar to LaunchPort's Johns Hopkins/UMD-rooted ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Cleveland Clinic Healthcare Innovation Alliance: Cleveland Clinic's portfolio of innovation and accelerator programs supporting medical device and digital health innovators. Comparable in using a leading hospital system as a commercialization anchor and providing clinical/regulatory support to founders.

Broad incumbents

• JLABS (Johnson & Johnson Innovation): Johnson & Johnson's global life-sciences incubator network offering lab space, programming, and mentorship across pharma, biotech, and medtech. Broader incumbent peer given its multi-site footprint, deep corporate backing, and overlap with medtech entrepreneur support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TLaunchport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-launchport

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The LaunchPort